Job and pay prospects are limited

As MR Justice Cyril Kelly continued to seek clarification of certain issues from the Government last night ahead of his expected resignation, his immediate career options appear limited.

With Government sources indicating that the clarifications being sought did not relate to money, the judge cannot reckon on anything more than his basic pension entitlements.

Based on his Circuit Court service - he has been in the High Court only since last November - this is estimated to be something between £20,000 and £30,000: a severe drop from his High Court salary of around £80,000. He will not receive any lump sum.

On top of this he will lose his right to practise at the Bar; although he could, in theory at least, seek readmission, a precedent for which exists in the case of Mr Harry Whelehan, who was president of the High Court for only a very brief period.

After the events which forced his resignation and brought down the Fianna Fail/Labour coalition in 1994, Mr Whelehan was readmitted by an exceptional vote of the Bar Council.

But even apart from Mr Whelehan's extreme popularity and that he had not been accused of any improper behaviour, his case was very different from Mr Justice Kelly's.

It appears highly unlikely that a similar exception would be made in the current circumstances. In any event the Bar Council says it has had no approach from Mr Justice Kelly over the past few days.

The judge is not without options should he choose to resign. He could, for example, seek to practise at the Bar in Northern Ireland, while a much more realistic option is work in the private sector as a legal adviser.

His wife Patricia is a solicitor. But with the family understood to be in the process of buying a new home, his pension entitlement is unlikely to suffice.